BUFFALO – Former Ten Sleep resident Darlene Funk, 87, passed
away early Christmas morning at the AmieHoltCareCenter in Buffalo.
Darlene Mae Funk was born on Sept. 14, 1925 in Luana, Iowa
to Emil K. and Irene L. (Lindroth) DeSotel. She spent her childhood years in Luana where she grew up and went to school. Darlene met her
future husband her first day of school in Luana and
they were childhood sweethearts all through school. Darlene graduated from LuanaHigh School. After high
school Darlene attended WartburgCollege in Waverly, Iowa
and later transferred to LutherCollege in Decorah,
Iowa where she received her
elementary teaching certificate in 1945. She was married to Merle Funk, her
childhood sweetheart, in 1946 after he returned from serving in the Pacific
Theater during WWII. Darlene and Merle made their home in Monona,
Iowa and Darlene taught the 4th grade for one
year in Postville, Iowa
and taught the 5th grade for four years in Monona, Iowa
until the arrival of her first child. In 1964 they moved to Buffalo
where they lived until 1967 when they moved to Ten Sleep where they lived until
1997 when they moved into the Worland Health Care and RehabilitationCenter
in Worland. Mr. Funk passed away in 2001 and in 2009 Darlene became a resident
of the AmieHoltCareCenter
in Buffalo
where she lived until the time of her death. Darlene loved spending time in the
BigHornMountains
and embroidering. She was an excellent homemaker and mother and loved spending
time with her grand kids.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one son Mark Funk and
one brother Gordon.
She is survived by one son Matthew Funk of Thermopolis; one daughter Merideth (Tony) Sears of Linch,
Wyoming; one brother Wayne DeSotel of Luana, Iowa; one sister NylaDeSotel of Waukon, Iowa; four grandchildren, Max and Sam
Funk, Anthony Sears Jr. and Andy Sears and two great-grandchildren, Brody and
Taylor Sears.
Graveside services for Darlene will be held by her family in the spring or
early summer in the Ten Sleep Cemetery in Ten Sleep with the date to be
announced later. Donations in Mrs. Funk’s memory may be made to the AmieHoltCareCenter
in care of the Adams Funeral Home in Buffalo,
who are in charge of arrangements.